CAMBRIDGE CITY CENTRE

A Beautiful Backdrop For A Family Photo Shoot

Cambridge city centre is certainly beautiful by any standards! Its an ancient historic city brimming with beautiful architecture and glorious green spaces for instance. In addition, it boasts proud Colleges steeped in history and tradition, the winding River Cam and lots of tiny hidden streets and passageways.

I’m a family photographer living near this amazing city. Most of my work is set in the rural Cambridgeshire countryside, but, every once in a while, a family chooses Cambridge city centre for the backdrop to their portraits… and what an amazing backdrop it is!

The city of Cambridge is so diverse because of its architecture and green spaces. This means that there is huge scope for a family photo shoot. Firstly, if cobbled streets and ancient architecture are your thing, we can find it. Secondly, if grand buildings and formal colleges are your thing, we can find that too. And thirdly, if green spaces and lazing by the river are your thing, there’s plenty of that available!

I always get to know a family before their shoot and find out a little bit about them and what they like to do. This enables me to plan a route around the city together with them beforehand for instance. In other words, we can take in the places they enjoy spending time, or want to use for their shoot. If they are relaxed and enjoying the session, as a result, I can capture honest emotional photos of them enjoying time together and showing the special bonds they share.

My favourite Cambridge city centre locations

TRINITY LANE

KINGS COLLEGE

ST MARY'S PASSAGE

Why does Cambridge look so quiet in your photos?

This is because I ALWAYS schedule central Cambridge shoots early in the morning. In the summer months, when the light allows, we start around 7.00am and in the Winter, no later than 8.00pm. This is essential, because these popular locations fill up with students and sight-seers therefore making a photo shoot impossible.

Can we go into the colleges and their grounds?

Generally speaking this is not possible, because most colleges only allow photo shoots in and around public access areas. Special permission is needed to shoot within college grounds and therefore a liscence must be applied for beforehand. However, if you have a link with a specific college, in other words, if you are an allumni or are holding an event there, occassionaly access for a photo shoot is possible.

Is a Cambridge city centre shoot suitable for young children??

Yes it is! So long as you are happy with a very early morning start! We would start shooting around 7.00am and be finished by 9.00am and as a result avoid crowds of students and sight-seers. Cambridge has many pedestrianised areas and lots of wide open green spaces therefore making it suitable for children and families to enjoy.

How can I enquire about booking a family photo shoot?

You can find out lots of information about my family photo shoots including prices and packages here. Please feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions or would like to enquire about available dates at louisafrenchphotography@gmail.com.

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Lockdown 2020

60 Days and Counting!

I’m a family photographer living in a tiny rural Cambridgeshire village. Since the Coronavirus lockdown started here in the UK, I’ve been documenting the highs and lows of everyday family life in quarantine. So far, it’s been 60 days… and counting!

About Us

We are a family of four (five if you count the puppy!) and we’ve been in lockdown in a tiny rural village in Cambridgeshire since 17th March 2020.

Predictably, there have been highs and lows. For the first few days I was so anxious I couldn’t pick up my camera… But then I decided to channel my nervous energy into documenting this unique time in our lives.

So far, we’ve celebrated 3 lockdown birthdays, worried continuously about work and whether we can return, home-schooled and logged onto live lessons, relished countless Zoom calls to friends and family, embraced home haircuts (us and the dog), clapped for our carers every Thursday night, supported local neighbours and spent countless hours roaming the deserted fields and countryside around our village.

Check out our video diary!

March 2020

I really didn’t want to pick up the camera. I was so worried – about us, about family, about what was being reported each day, about how the next few weeks would look.

But it was my daughter’s 12th birthday in March, the first of three we’ve celebrated so far in lockdown. I couldn’t let it pass without recording some of what we did that day.

So, I made a decision then to photograph my family every day during lockdown, and make a photo diary of our time together.

April 2020

As our new routine slowly emerged, I photographed lots of moments from our lives. It soon became aparant that the majority of my photo diary would be shot during our daily dog walks. It was the one time of day that we were all engaged in something together and felt happy and free.

Our puppy was 6 months old and we all doted on him, so our daily hour’s alloted outing became a precious and longed-for daily treat.

May 2020

We continued to be blessed with good weather, and restrictions for outdoor activity were lifted slightly – much to the delight of my family!

We embraced plenty of long walks and bike rides in and around our village, whilst the children got used to their home school routine.

We were all missing friends and family dreadfully and were starting to feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension about returning to work and school.

Watch this space for June…

Who knows what June will bring? The children will not be returning to school just yet, but hopefully I’ll be returning to work. I miss photographing families in the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside!

Watch this space for an update to my photo diary at the end of June 2020.

Find Out More

Louisa is a photographer based near Cambridge known for her outdoor work with children and families. She also does branding and commercial work for small local businesses. You can follow her photographs on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM.

For enquiries, please email louisafrenchphotography@gmail.com

FIND ME

Louisa French Photography

Cambridge Photographer

louisafrenchphotography@gmail.com

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FIVE QUICK STYLING TIPS FOR A SPRING FAMIY PHOTO SHOOT

You’ve taken the plunge and booked a spring family photo shoot with a professional photographer. Only now you’re stressing about what you should all wear! Let’s face it, it’s hard enough to get everybody ready, dressed, and out of the house on time let alone in co-ordinating outfits without breakfast all down them or grass stains on their knees.

I have lots of family photo shoots coming up over the next few months, including my Spring family mini shoots at Wandlebury Country Park, so I thought I’d share quick tips for taking the stress out of choosing outfits for your family photo shoot.

FIVE FAMILY STYLING TIPS

spring family photo shoot

1 – Start with one person

Rather than trying to co-ordinate everybody at the same time, start with just one member of your family. I would recommend choosing one of your children’s outfits first and make sure you’re totally happy with those items and the colours. Next you can start to select items for everybody else that sit well with this first outfit.

H&M Kids have some great affordable items available this season that would look great for any Spring family photo shoot.

GIRLS CLOTHING CHOICES

BOYS CLOTHING CHOICES

2 – Choose your colours according to your backdrop

During the Spring and summer seasons, colours are fresh and vibrant. There are lots of greens, pinks, blues and purples in the beautiful Cambridge countryside. As Spring heads towards Summer, we see more warm and neutral yellows and beige tones appearing, as the wheat ripens and the grasses dry out. For your photographs to look good, you should dress your family to compliment these colours rather than clash with them. Here are some examples of families that did a great job choosing their colours and tones.

3 – Dress for the weather

Early spring weather is notoriously unpredictable! Some days will be bright glorious warm sunshine and others blustery and chilly. It’s a good idea to make sure everybody has lots of layers. If your children are cold and miserable it will basically put an end to your photo shoot. Thin pastel knits work well over shirts or t-shits and can always be removed if children get hot whilst running around.

4 – Are you comfortable?

Make sure your children are comfortable in what they’re wearing. If they are dressed too formally and can’t run around and have fun, it will show in their mood and therefore in your photos too!

Their clothes need to be appropriate for playing outdoors as well as look good for your photos! For example, your daughter may love her pink sparkly party shoes, but 5 minutes into a walk through the woods and the likelihood is they’ll be wet and muddy and looking grotty.

The same goes for the parents. You’ll feel far more relaxed and able to enjoy spending time playing with your children during a photo shoot if you’re comfortable in your clothes.

5 – The Do’s and Don’ts of choosing your photo shoot outfits

If all else fails, there are some basic do’s and don’ts to help you choose what to wear for your Spring family photoshoot:

DO:

Layer up! You can always remove them if you get too warm.

Wear sensible shoes for walking through wet grass and muddy woodland

Bring a spare set of clothes for each of your children in case of wet or muddy accidents.

choose one of two basic colours that you can all stick too in various tones

Avoid children’s character clothing such as peppa pig jumpers or spider-man coats.

Leave the sports kit at home. I know its hard to persuade boys they can’t wear a football kit!

Try not to bring children’s comforters or dummies. They often get upset if you want to take them away for photos and won’t carry on without them.

Anything stuffed into pockets, such as keys, wallets or phones etc will be visible in your shots!

MORE INFORMATION

My Spring family mini shoots are taking place at Wandlebury Country Park in Cambridge on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May, 2020. These are 30-minute shoots that include your five favourite photos and are perfect for updating your home and gifting to family and friends. You can find out all the details and book your time slot here:

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FREE DAYS OUT FOR FAMILIES IN CAMBRIDGE THIS OCTOBER HALF TERM

The weather is turning, the days are getting shorter and October half term is rapidly approaching! As the cold slinks towards us, the lure of the TV / ipad / tablet is a constant battle with our kids. But there are still plenty of things on offer to drag them away from a screen. You don’t even have to spend lots of money! There are some great free days out in Cambridge this October half term, so why not check out the suggestions below.

FABULOUS, FUN, FREE DAYS OUT IN CAMBRIDGE WITH THE KIDS THIS OCTOBER HALF TERM

1 – MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY

If you have a budding David Attenborough amongst your children, then the newly re-furbished Museum of Zoology on Downing Street is a must! During October half term, the museum is running the “Where’s Wally Big Museum Hunt”. You can visit anytime between Saturday 19th October and Sunday 3rd November. Just pick up a trail sheet, and see if you can find Wally hidden amongst the exhibits and specimens. There are lots to be found, and if you find them all, receive a winner’s sticker and the chance to enter into the museum’s big prize draw. More details about the event, and others happening at the museum, can be found here. Entrance is free.

2 – JUNIOR PARK RUN free days out

This free event for junior runners takes place every Sunday at 10.00am at Milton Country Park. It’s a 2km timed event for children aged between 4-14 and you must register participants beforehand. Junior park run can be anything you want it to be – just a fun run outdoors or as part of training for other events and school activities. Either way, its a great opportunity for a fun free day out for all the family! More information and registration for Junior Park Run can be found here.

3 – STUDIO SUNDAY AT KETTLE’S YARD

Attend a free art workshop with your family at Kettle’s Yard on Sunday 13th October between midday and 4.00pm. The workshop will be led by an artist and children can enjoy practical art making activities. The event is free and there’s no need to book – just drop in! Activities are focused on children between 3-11 years old and no previous art experience is necessary. Find more details here.

4 – MY PET PALS SPOOKY PETS WORKSHOP

Pets at Home in the Beehive Centre are running a free “My Pet Pals Spooky Pets Workshop” every day during the October half term holidays. The workshop is suitable for children aged between 5-11. It aims to teach children about responsible pet ownership and how rewarding caring for a pet properly can be. There will also be plenty of hands-on opportunities with lots of small and cute furry creatures! Booking in advance is essential. for more info and to book your place, see their website here.

5 – GEOCACHING – FREE DAYS OUT

For children who like a treasure hunt, geocaching is ideal. Geocaching is basically the world’s biggest free treasure hunt! There are millions of geocaches (or treasures) to find, including hundreds in and around Cambridge! Start by downloading and registering the free app onto your smart phone. Next look for geochaches near your location, then head out with the kids to find them. Geocaches range in shape and size, and be easily visible or hidden away. They often include little knick knacks or tchotchkes for you to trade. Make sure you sign and date the book inside the box and then log your find on the app. More details on geocahing can be found here.

6 – THE WOODLAND TRUST

Who doesn’t love a walk in the woods and kicking the leaves during the Autumn months? The woodland trust have great some great free scavenger hunt sheets available to download from their website, so you can keep the kids busy and entertained during your walk. There are two different sheets available – one for 3-5 year olds and one for children 6 and above. There are also lots of ideas on their website for free fun with the children out in the woods this half term. To find a wood near you and for more details on their free vents and scavenger hunts sheets, see their website here.

ABOUT ME

I’m a Cambridge photographer and have two children of my own. This Autumn, I’m holding Family Mini Photo Shoots in Cambridge on Saturday 5th October and in Newmarket on Saturday 12th October. These are 30-minute shoots that include 5 photos and are perfect for updating a wall in your home and gifting new photographs to family for Christmas. You can find out all the details and book your time slot here:

If you prefer the flexibility of a full family photo shoot (choosing a date, time and location specifically tailored to you and your family) you can find more details about my sessions here. My last shoot date to have photographs in time for Christmas is Sunday 1st December 2019.

]]>https://louisafrenchphotography.com/free-days-out-for-families-cambridge/feed/045495 secrets for taking the stress out of choosing outfits for your Autumn family photoshoothttps://louisafrenchphotography.com/choosing-outfits-for-your-autumn-family-photo-shoot/
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5 SECRETS FOR TAKING THE STRESS OUT OF CHOOSING OUTFITS FOR YOUR AUTUMN FAMILY PHOTO SHOOT

You’ve taken the plunge and booked an Autumn family photo shoot with a professional photographer. Only now you’re stressing about what you should all wear! Let’s face it, it’s hard enough to get everybody ready, dressed, and out of the house on time let alone in co-ordinating outfits without breakfast all down them or grass stains on their knees.

I have lots of family photo shoots coming up over the next few months, including my Autumn mini sessions, so I thought I’d share my 5 secrets for taking the stress out of choosing outfits for your family photo shoot.

FIVE SECRETS FOR TAKING THE STRESS OUT OF CHOOSING OUTFITS FOR YOUR AUTUMN FAMILY PHOTO SHOOT

1 – Start with one person

Rather than trying to co-ordinate everybody at the same time, start with just one member of your family. I would recommend choosing one of your children’s outfits first and make sure you’re totally happy with those items and the colours. Next you can start to select items for everybody else that sit well with this first outfit.

H&M Kids have some great affordable items available this season that would look great for any autumn family photo shoot.

GIRLS CLOTHING CHOICES

BOYS CLOTHING CHOICES

2 – Choose your colours according to your backdrop

During the Autumn season, colours are rich and vibrant. There are lots of greens, oranges and yellows in the beautiful Cambridge countryside. As Autumn heads towards Winter, we see more rich and earthy browns and chocolates appearing too. How you dress your family should compliment these colours rather than clash with them for your photographs to look good. Here are some examples of families that did a great job choosing their colours and tones.

3 – Dress for the weather

Autumn weather is notoriously unpredictable! Some days will be bright glorious warm sunshine and others blustery and chilly. It’s a good idea to make sure everybody has lots of layers. If your children are cold and miserable it will basically put an end to your photo shoot. Chunky textured knits look wonderful in Autumn photographs. Gilets, scarves, bobble hats and gloves also make adorable children’s portraits as well as keeping little ones warm.

4 – Are you comfortable?

Make sure your children are comfortable in what they’re wearing. If they are dressed too formally and can’t run around and have fun, it will show in their mood and therefore in your photos too!

Their clothes need to be appropriate for an outdoor autumn family photoshoot as well as comfortable! Your daughter may love her pink sparkly party shoes, but 5 minutes into a walk through the woods and the likelihood is they’ll be wet and muddy and looking grotty.

The same goes for the parents. You’ll feel far more relaxed and able to enjoy spending time playing your children during a photo shoot if you’re comfortable in your clothes.

5 – The Do’s and Don’ts of choosing your outfits

If all else fails, there are some basic do’s and don’ts to help you choose what to wear for your Autumn family photoshoot:

DO:

Layer up!

Add bobble hats and scarves for gorgeous kids portraits

Wear sensible shoes for kicking through the wet fallen leaves!

Bring a spare set of clothes for each of your children in case of wet or muddy accidents.

DON’T

Avoid children’s character clothing such as peppa pig jumpers or spider-man coats.

Leave the sports kit at home. I know its hard to persuade boys they can’t wear a football kit!

Try not to bring children’s comforters or dummies. They often get upset if you want to take them away for photos and won’t carry on without them.

Anything stuffed into pockets, such as keys, wallets or phones etc will be visible in your shots!

MORE INFORMATION

My Autumn Family Mini Photo Shoots are taking place in Cambridge on Saturday 5th October and in Newmarket on Saturday 12th October. These are 30-minute shoots that include 5 photos and are perfect for updating a wall in your home and gifting new photographs to family for Christmas. You can find out all the details and book your time slot here:

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WHAT IS PERSONAL BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHY AND WILL IT HELP GROW MY BUSINESS?

Personal branding photography is a set of lifestyle shots featuring you and you business…

and YES it certainly will help grow your business and your client base!

Ashely, Yoga Instructor

FIVE REASONS PERSONAL BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHY WILL HELP BOOST YOUR BUSINESS

1 – First Impressions

People often make their purchasing decisions based on a first impression – much like eating, we tend to shop with our eyes. And making a choice to buy a product or service is often emotional rather than practical! First impressions count, so having a set of customised personal branding photography for your business can make a huge impact and really affect your bottom line! Personal branding photography is about marketing YOU!

2 – Trust

Personalising your business with photographs of you creates trust. After all, YOU are your business! And people do business with PEOPLE, not businesses! They want to see the person behind the brand. Potential clients are far more like to spend money with you if they can see the real live person running the show. You want people to know what it feels like to work with you, before they’ve even spoken to you. It’s all about being visible and putting yourself at the forefront of your business.

3 – Customised content

Custom photography is a huge asset! Having a library of personalised photographs relevant to you and your brand will save you time and money in the long term. no more hours wasted trwling through stock photos trying to find something to post.

Useable and relevant photography for content across your social media feeds, website, email newsletters, flyers and other marketing communications is essential for your brand identity. I know it’s daunting to get behind a camera… I’ve not met many people who relish it! And I know it’s scary to show yourself on social media and your website. But it really will pay off for your brand in the long term.

4 – Personal connection

“So why can’t I use stock photography?” I hear you shout. Of course you can. Lots of businesses rely on it. But what happens when your competitor use the same stock photos? Nightmare! Now your brand is no longer unique. Personal branding photography is an investment. But it really will show your potential clients who you are. It tells the story of your business and what its like to work with you.

5 – Quality

A set of professionally taken photographs, customised to your business, coveys quality. It shouts to potential customers that you value quality in your brand and offer quality to your clients. It will help you be more confident in your brand, charge what you’re worth, and even raise your rates!

MORE INFORMATION

If you’re interested in having some personal branding photography taken for you and your business, you can find out more here.

Louisa Williams is a family photographer based near Cambridge. If you’re interested in a family photo shoot, you can find more details about her sessions here or email louisafrenchphotography@gmail.com. Louisa also offers beginner’s photography courses for parents. More information on group courses and individual teaching sessions can be found here.

PHOTOGRAPHY INSPIRATION

SUMMER HOLIDAYS

I’m working with a group of tallented photographers on the #collaborationnotcompetition project which is organised by Nina Mace Photography. We will all share a recent favourite image, every month, around a certain theme. This month’s photography inspiration theme is SUMMER HOLIDAYS.

I am a family photographer based near Cambridge. SUMMER HOLIDAYS, is the theme for this month’s photography inspiration blog post. Therefore, I want to share some of my own family photographs from the school summer holidays.

I’ve tried hard to document my family over the last couple of months. Just as they are. Warts and all! We’ve tried to avoid the more traditional posed photographs. Instead I opted for ‘capturing the moment’ because capturing a true record of our family just as they are was important.

How to photograph the summer holidays

I soon realised that I needed to have my camera on hand and easily accessible to do this. It’s impossible to capture anything if you have to run to the spare room cupboard to get your camera every time you want to take a photo. You’ve missed the moment. So I made sure I left my camera on the kitchen counter everyday. This meant I could grab a shot of the kids easily if I wanted to.

It was also hard to stop myself offering direction too! Trying desperately hard not to utter the words “just move over to the left a bit into that gorgeous light” became a daily trial! But it paid off, and I managed to capture a fantastic record of our summer together.

Of course there are pictures of our days out, holidays and special occasions like every summer. But I also managed to photograph ‘the everyday’. This included hanging at home, daily rituals and down time. And every now and then, I got in the frame too. I don’t want them to look back and not see me present with them!

MORE INFORMATION

Louisa Williams is a family photographer based near Cambridge. If you’re interested in a family photo shoot, you can find more details about her sessions here or email louisafrenchphotography@gmail.com. Louisa also offers beginner’s photography courses for parents. More information on group courses and individual teaching sessions can be found here.

MEET THE OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post – if you would like to see more photography inspiration from other professional photographers within the #collaborationnotcompetition project then feel free to visit anyof the websites below

PHOTOGRAPHY INSPIRATION

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

I’m working with a group of tallented photographers on the #collaborationnotcompetition project which is organised by Nina Mace Photography. We will all share a recent favourite image, every month, around a certain theme. This month’s photography inspiration theme is FAMILY.

I am a family photographer based near Cambridge. FAMILY, is this month’s photography inspiration blog post theme. Therefore, I want to share some images from a recent extended family shoot I did.

The family booked this shoot for the grandparents’ birthday present. They all live in different parts of the UK, but would be spending a week on holiday together in Norfolk. As a result, they asked if I could come and take some family photographs at their holiday house.

I spent some time at the beginning of the session taking shots of the whole family group. Next I took the individual family shots, followed by some shots of all the children together. After that, everybody relaxed and we had a bit of fun. Everybody played hide and seek as well as chasing games. This gave me a chance to grab a good selection of shots of the whole family enjoying precious time together.

Enjoying time with family and friends is precious, and lots of people are booking extended family photo shoots to capture these special memories. I find they are usually booked as a present for a grandparent’s birthday. This is a great way of having some professional family photographs taken and sharing the cost between the whole family.

MORE INFORMATION

Louisa Williams is a family photographer based near Cambridge. If you’re interested in an extended family photo shoot, you can find more details about her sessions here or email louisafrenchphotography@gmail.com. Louisa also offers beginner’s photography courses for parents. More information on group courses and individual teaching sessions can be found here.

MEET THE OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post – if you would like to see more photography inspiration from other professional photographers within the #collaborationnotcompetition project then feel free to visit anyof the websites below

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10 TIPS FOR TAKING GREAT FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS

THIS SCHOOL SUMMER HOLIDAY

School’s out for summer! Over the next six weeks parents everywhere will be reaching for their cameras to snap family photographs of their amazing summer holiday adventures. Whether you’re jetting off to a far-flung destination, making the most of the gorgeous British beaches or enjoying a ‘stay-cation’, I’m sure you’ll want to take some holiday snaps along the way?

I’ve been photographing families professionally for 5 years and documenting my own children for nearly 12… Here are some of things I’ve learned along the way to make capturing family photographs over the summer holidays fun, effective and much easier!

1 – Keep your camera with you

When you’re at home, keep your camera out on the kitchen surface or somewhere you can grab it quickly and easily. That way you won’t miss the perfect opportunity to photograph your children spontaneously just because you had to dig about in the spare room cupboard for the camera!

It seems obvious, but remember to put it in the car and take it with you when you’re out for the day. Then remember not to leave it in the car when you park up and head off! Get used to taking your camera with you like any other essential item – wallet, house keys, mobile phone etc.

2 – Travel light

If you’re inclined to leave your big DSLR camera at home or at the hotel, or find yourself fiddling with too many lenses and a heavy camera bag, perhaps it’s time for a change?

The best camera is the one you have with you, so work out what that is, even if it’s your phone, and make sure you use it. If you’re too tempted to check your emails and surf social media when using a phone camera, you could try a light and easy to handle small digital camera. I like the Sony A600 or the slightly more expensive Fujifilm XT30. Both are great, small, lightweight alternatives to a big DSLR and are not much bigger than an iphone!

3 – Learn to see the light

The best light for photography is the few hours after sunrise and few hours before sunset. The shadows are really long and the light is softer and warmer making for beautiful family photographs.

If you’re outside, try to find shade to avoid the children squinting at the camera in the harsh light. If you’re snapping away indoors, facing the children towards the window will light their faces nicely. You can read more about how the light affects your photographs here on this blog piece about taking a better selfie!

4 – The right moment

Unfortunately, finding the right time for your children is not always the same as finding the right time for the best light. Trying to take sunset photos of a three year old way past bedtime is no fun for anyone! Nor is dragging your teenager up at 5.00am to get some beautiful morning light on a cold Norfolk beach!

It’s a bit of a balancing act. I’m a firm believer in carrying on whilst everybody is happy and having fun, as you’ll get some great shots. No matter how beautiful the light, negotiating with an exhausted toddler will not produce a beautiful photo!

5 – Remember to photograph the VIPs

It’s not JUST about photographing the kids…. its about photographing the Very Important People in their lives.

The school summer holidays are often spent catching up with friends and family, so take advantage and photograph it! Remember to capture them enjoying time with their grandparents. Grab shots of them playing with their friends. Most importantly, don’t forget to photograph yourself with them – especially if you’re always behind the camera.

These experiences are precious, and everybody will want to look back at photographic memories of them.

6 – No posing!

It’s tempting to line everybody up in front of the wonderful view or the landmark you’re visiting… “say cheese” you eagerly shout… “just look at the camera!”.

Whilst these posed photos are great, and you’ll enjoy remembering the places you visited, its even better to mix it up with some more candid shots. Try and use your camera to record the experiences your children are actually having. Photograph the games they play, the mess they make, the races they run against each other, the camps and dens they build etc. You don’t need everybody looking at the camera and smiling to make a beautiful family photograph.

7 – Make it a game

If your children are young, and they’re struggling to focus, give them something to do whilst you photograph them – a mini beast hunt, a bubble machine, a game of hide and seek, a sprinkler etc. If they’re older, you can try giving them the camera and getting them to photograph themselves and each other – especially with you!

8. Capture the details and the bigger picture

Sometimes, family photographs of your summer holiday are much better if they tell a story about what you were actually doing. To do this, try and get out of the habit of just taking ‘traditional portraits’.

Instead, focus more on the tiny details – the sandcastles they build, the bugs and butterflies they found, the paintings they’ve done, the dens they’ve built, the secret notes you found under the bed – and photograph them too.

Then stand back and see the bigger picture – capture the whole story of what your children are doing. Take in the scene and photograph it to tell the story of their summer holiday.

9 – Ideas and inspiration for family photographs

If you’re struggling to find ideas that inspire you to photograph your family, try creating your own shot list. Draw up your list, share it with your children as a list of fun things to do together, and tick off the shots you take as you go. Here are some suggestions to get you going:

hugging each other

reading their favourite book

holding hands

riding bikes or scooters

making silly faces

the playground – slides and swings

tickling each other

colouring and painting

eating an ice cream

the sprinkler or paddling pool

dressing up

running races

baking

10 – Print your pictures

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, PRINT YOUR PICTURES!

Don’t leave them gathering virtual dust on your computer, never to be seen again. Technology moves on quickly – it was not so long ago we were storing everything on floppy disk, and then CR-Roms and then USBs and now the cloud… But how much better to have a photo book that you (and your children) can pick up anytime and leaf through all those magical summer holiday memories!

Louisa Williams is a family photographer based near Cambridge. If you’d like some beautiful new family photographs, you can find more details about her sessions here. Ready to book and want to secure your session date? Please drop an email to louisafrenchphotography@gmail.com or fill in this form.

Louisa also offers beginner’s photography courses for parents. More information on group courses and individual teaching sessions can be found here.

The secrets of sunset photography

There’s nothing quite like a spectacular sunset! It brings joy to our hearts and peace to our minds. Not to mention the fact it creates countless amazing photo opportunities! But sunset photography takes a bit of mastering. Perhaps you’ve lined up the kids ready for that epic photo at the end of a wonderful day at the beach, only to find you can’t get the shot you want? Either the sunset looks great and the kids look really dark, or the kids look great but the sky looks washed out. It’s a common problem. But with a little practise, anyone can master the secrets of getting a great portrait photo at sunset!

Striking a Balance

The trick to getting great sunset photography is striking a balance between aperture and shutter speed. This means letting in enough light in to illuminate your subject, but not so much that the sunset is bleached out.

How to do it

The best way to achieve this is just to try it out. This means starting with an F-stop and shutter speed you ideally want. Next you’ll want to altering them slightly until you have the right balance of light to expose the subject as well as the sky.

The subject will always remain fairly dark, but if they are angled towards the light enough, you should be able to strike the right balance.

Adding light

Sometimes, you’ll need a little extra help to add some more light onto your subject to get a great sunset shot

Cambridge photographer

How to do it

The best ways to add light are by using a flash or a reflector.

I prefer a reflector as it gives your sunset photography a more natural look. Angle the reflector to bounce light from the sunset onto your subject’s face. This will lighten your subject whilst still allowing you to exposure for the sky.

Embrace the silhouette

One of the best things about sunset photography is getting great silhouette shots. I just LOVE them. I think they can tell exciting stories and evoke emotion in the viewer.

How to do it

Silhouettes are perhaps the easiest sunset photography shot to master. Start but setting your camera’s exposure for the sky. Next, make sure your shutter speed is fast enough to capture the action. Then just snap away! If your subject are too light, reduce your exposure until they are dark enough. Here you could also use shutter speed priority mode to allow your camera to do the hard work..

Photographer Cambridge

Louisa Williams is a family photographer based near Cambridge. You can see more of her current work and enquire about commissions here .

If you’d like some beautiful new family portraits, you can find more details about her family sessions here. Ready to book and want to secure your session date? Please drop an email to louisafrenchphotography@gmail.com or fill in this form.

Louisa also offers beginner’s photography courses for parents. Learn how to use your Digital SLR camera to take better photos of your children and family. More information on group courses and individual teaching sessions can be found here.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. If you would like to see more inspiration from other professional photographers within the #collaborationnotcompetition project then feel free to visit any of the websites below: